Privacy Policy

1. What information do we collect?

Information you provide

If you email support, we receive your email address and the contents of your message, including a name, screenshots, exported saves, or other details you choose to include. This is optional; an email address is not required to play. Please do not send payment card details, passwords, or sensitive personal information.

Progress and local storage

The game stores puzzle progress, in-progress games, in-game currency, unlocked cats and furniture, reward records, and settings locally on your device. It maintains a local backup to help recover a damaged save. These records support gameplay and prevent duplicate rewards; they are not uploaded to a developer-operated gameplay analytics server.

You may export a save and choose where to store or share it. Anyone with the exported file can read its contents. Importing a save replaces active progress. Exported saves do not transfer paid purchase ownership. Device or operating-system backups and a storage service you choose for an export may hold additional copies under their own settings and policies.

In-app purchases

Apple processes in-app purchases on iOS. Google Play processes purchases in an Android release that supports them. The app uses platform-verified transaction and entitlement information, such as product identifiers and purchase status, to deliver paid features and restore purchases. We do not receive or store your payment card number or security code. The app store maintains its payment and transaction records under its own privacy policy.

Google AdMob advertising

The advertising-supported release uses Google AdMob for interstitial and optional rewarded ads. Google's Mobile Ads SDK may process IP addresses and approximate location derived from them; advertising or other device/app identifiers; ad impressions, clicks, and video interactions; app/device and operating-system information; and crash, performance, or other diagnostic information. Google uses this information for ad delivery, advertising measurement, analytics, fraud prevention, and service operation.

The game does not request GPS or precise-location permission. Approximate location derived by an advertising provider from an IP address is different from accessing your device's GPS.

Where applicable, Google consent messages and the game's Settings → Ad privacy choices provide advertising choices. Available choices depend on your region and applicable requirements. An operating-system tracking choice does not stop every form of advertising-related processing; limited device or contextual information may still be processed where permitted. A remove-ads purchase suppresses the interstitial ads it covers; the advertising SDK may remain active to support optional rewarded ads and related ad loading.

Optional TikTok ad measurement

The iOS version includes TikTok's App Events SDK to measure whether our advertising brings players to Cat Water Sort. The SDK starts only after you choose Allow in the game's optional ad-measurement prompt and authorize tracking through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt. Declining either choice leaves gameplay and purchases available.

When enabled, the integration reports an install event and app-open events, together with associated device/app information. This may include the advertising identifier and SDK-generated identifiers, IP address and approximate location, device model, operating system, app version, and SDK diagnostic or performance information. TikTok processes these signals for advertising attribution, measurement, optimization, and related service operation.

We do not send puzzle moves, save files, names, email addresses, or contacts to TikTok. Automatic purchase and retention event reporting, other automatic event tracking, and enhanced data postback are disabled in this integration. The app explicitly reports install/open events while authorized.

You can withdraw the game's permission through Settings → Ad measurement → Turn off. You can also manage tracking permission in iOS Settings. Withdrawal stops future event reporting by this integration; it does not by itself erase information already received by TikTok.

Optional reminders and other services

If you enable daily reminders, the app requests notification permission and schedules a reminder locally on your device. This feature does not use a developer-operated remote push-notification server. You can disable reminders through the game or system notification settings.

The current release does not require account registration or social login and does not enable cloud progress syncing. We do not operate a separate gameplay analytics service or send game saves to an AI service. The advertising measurement and SDK diagnostics described above still apply.

2. How do we use information?

• Provide and restore game progress, settings, rewards, and paid features.
• Show ads, deliver rewarded-ad benefits, and measure advertising performance.
• Measure installs and app opens through TikTok when you authorize that integration.
• Respond to support and privacy requests and investigate reported problems.
• Maintain security, prevent fraud or duplicate rewards, and meet applicable legal obligations.

Advertising providers may also use information for the purposes described in their policies and applicable terms, subject to available consent and privacy choices.

3. What legal bases do we rely on?

Where the GDPR, UK GDPR, or similar laws require a legal basis, the basis depends on the processing and the applicable law. We rely on:

• Performance of a contract where necessary to provide requested game features and verify or restore paid access.
• Consent where required for advertising technologies, tracking, or optional measurement. You may withdraw consent through the relevant app or device controls or by contacting us.
• Legitimate interests in responding to support requests, maintaining security, and preventing fraud, where those interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Legal obligations where processing or retention is necessary to comply with applicable requirements.

Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal or processing justified by another applicable legal basis. In Canada, we seek express or implied consent as appropriate under applicable law, subject to legally permitted exceptions. Providers may rely on their own applicable legal bases as explained in their notices.

4. When and with whom do we share information?

Information may be processed by the following providers for the functions described above:

• Google AdMob: advertising, ad measurement, and related diagnostics. See Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses information from apps that use its services.
• TikTok: optional iOS install/open measurement. See TikTok's Privacy Policy and TikTok Business Products (Data) Terms.
• Apple and, where applicable, Google Play: purchases and entitlement restoration. See Apple's Privacy Policy and Google's Privacy Policy.
• Gmail: support and privacy correspondence sent to our email address, processed under Google's Privacy Policy.

These providers may process information outside your country, including in countries with different privacy laws. Their policies describe applicable processing locations and transfer safeguards.

We may disclose information where legally required, to address fraud or security issues, or to establish or defend legal rights. If the game or its business is transferred, relevant information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law and notice requirements.

The developer does not sell personal information for money. Advertising and measurement disclosures may nevertheless qualify as "sharing," "sale," or targeted advertising under some privacy laws, depending on the data use. See Section 11 for related choices and rights.

5. Third-party websites and advertising destinations

Ads and links may take you to websites, stores, or services operated by other parties. Their handling of information after you visit them is governed by their own policies. Review those policies before providing information. This does not remove our responsibility to describe third-party SDK processing within our app.

This policy covers the mobile game rather than a browser-hosted version of the game. Its local storage and native advertising/measurement technologies should not be confused with a claim that no identifiers or similar technologies are used. Ad content or external destinations may use their own storage technologies as described by their providers.

6. How long do we keep information?

Local progress: Active game data and the game's local backup remain on your device until replaced, reset, or removed with app data. Resetting progress overwrites the active save and local backup. Exported copies and device or cloud backups are separate; delete those through the place where you stored them. Uninstalling ordinarily removes active app data, but operating-system backups may retain copies or restore them later.

Support and privacy correspondence: We retain messages only as reasonably needed to respond, resolve related issues, maintain necessary records, and comply with legal obligations. You may request deletion by email.

Purchases: Entitlement information is used as needed to provide and restore purchased features. App stores maintain their own transaction records. Resetting game progress does not cancel a purchase or delete the store's records.

Provider-held advertising and measurement information: Google and TikTok apply their own retention schedules and legal obligations. The developer does not set one retention period covering every provider record. Turning off measurement or deleting the app does not automatically delete information already processed by those providers; their privacy policies explain available requests and controls.

7. How do we protect information?

We use reasonable measures appropriate to the information and features involved. Local saves remain subject to your device's security and the security of any place you choose to export them. No electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Avoid including sensitive information in support emails or sharing exported saves publicly if you do not want others to read their contents.

8. Children and younger players

Cat Water Sort is a general-audience puzzle game. It does not require an account and does not ask players to enter a name, email address, precise location, or payment card information to play. Device and advertising information may still be processed as described above; this is not a statement that no information about younger players can be processed.

Parents and guardians can help younger players manage advertising, tracking, notification, and purchase settings. Where applicable law requires a parent's authorization, a child's own agreement to a device prompt does not replace that authorization.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to the developer through support or another contact, email catwatersort@gmail.com. We will investigate and take appropriate steps under applicable law, including deletion where required. There is no player account to deactivate.

9. Your privacy rights and choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to access or obtain a copy of personal information, correct inaccuracies, request deletion, restrict or object to processing, receive portable information, withdraw consent, or opt out of certain advertising-related processing. Rights can be subject to exceptions and verification requirements.

• TikTok measurement: Settings → Ad measurement → Turn off, where the integration is available.
• Advertising choices: Settings → Ad privacy choices, where offered under Google's consent/privacy requirements.
• iOS tracking: Manage the app's tracking permission in system Settings. This control concerns tracking; it is not a request to erase previously processed information.
• Reminders: Disable the reminder in the game or manage notification permission in system Settings.
• Local saves: Export or reset progress using the game's settings. Manage external copies separately.

To make a privacy request, email us using Section 14. For information held independently by an app store or advertising provider, its own policy explains available controls and request methods. We may not be able to identify a provider's device-based records from your email address alone.

If you are in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you may have the right to complain to your relevant supervisory authority. See the EEA authorities, UK Information Commissioner's Office, or Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner. You may also contact us first about a concern. We will handle requests and complaints within the periods required by applicable law and explain any permitted extension.

10. Device permissions and Do-Not-Track

The native mobile game does not use a web browser's Do-Not-Track setting to determine tracking permission. Use the app and operating-system controls described above. Browser Do-Not-Track is distinct from Apple's App Tracking Transparency authorization and from statutory opt-out rights. Contact us if you need help exercising an applicable right.

11. Additional information for US residents

Residents of certain US states, including California, may have additional rights where the relevant law applies to the processing. The table summarizes the kinds of information described in this policy, including conditional support submissions and provider processing. It does not mean the game requests every example covered by a broad statutory category.

Sources and purposes: Information comes from you, your device, and the providers described in Section 1 and Section 4. Purposes are described in Section 2. Retention is described in Section 6.

Sale, sharing, and targeted advertising: We do not sell personal information for money. Making identifiers, app/ad interaction information, or approximate location available to advertising or measurement partners may be treated as sale, sharing for cross-context behavioral advertising, or targeted advertising under an applicable state law. We therefore do not make a blanket claim that advertising-related sharing never occurs. Use the advertising and TikTok controls in Section 9 or contact us to exercise an applicable opt-out right.

Where applicable, rights may include knowing what is processed and disclosed, access, correction, deletion, portability, non-discrimination for exercising rights, and opting out of sale/sharing, targeted advertising, or certain profiling. Some laws also provide rights to information about recipients or to appeal a denied request. Applicable protections for minors and sensitive information depend on the relevant law; this policy does not substitute for any required consent.

To request access or exercise a right, email catwatersort@gmail.com. An authorized agent may contact us with proof of authority. We may request information reasonably necessary to verify a request, without asking for unnecessary sensitive information. If we deny a request, you may appeal by replying to the decision or emailing the same address. We will respond as applicable law requires; you may also contact your state attorney general or relevant regulator.

California residents may also request information about disclosures for direct marketing under California's "Shine the Light" law where it applies.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when features, providers, or information practices change. Updates will be posted here with a revised date. Where required, we will provide additional notice and obtain any necessary consent before the relevant new processing begins.

13. Contact us

Alex Schueler
Cat Water Sort
Email: catwatersort@gmail.com

14. Access, correction, and deletion requests

Email catwatersort@gmail.com and describe your request. We will consider it under applicable law, verify it where necessary, and explain any limitation. Please do not send passwords or payment card details.

Because progress is stored locally, the developer has no central copy of every player's save to retrieve or delete. Use the game's reset function to replace local progress, and delete exported copies or device backups separately. We can address support correspondence we hold; app stores and advertising providers maintain their own records and request processes. There is no player account or account-deletion flow.